Down jackets
- Thread starter Northern jock
- Start date
walk fast between pubs has always worked for me.
Larry Langford
Registered user
I remember when down jackets with ripstop nylon came out so to speak in colorado .... they were all the rave. and you could get kits for mainly vests, and put together your own. It seems the vest was more popular due to durability. The vest fits under things better where it is protected.
Around 1970 we took a winter trip down to louisiana and of course we had our very fashionable down vests with us. It was cool down in Lafayette LA. and it seems a hurricane had recently passed through. But we noticed that people were snickering at us when we had the down vests on, which, were just about right for the temp without a coat over the vest. Turns out, they thought the down vests were life jackets and thought that we were afraid of a possible hurricane. So we did explain and everyone had a good gut laugh. But the vests were very hard to comeby, and a number of the folks down there wanted then as soon as they found out they were for cold. I think we did send some down there or left the ones we had ... later on you could buy them in most places.
Around 1970 we took a winter trip down to louisiana and of course we had our very fashionable down vests with us. It was cool down in Lafayette LA. and it seems a hurricane had recently passed through. But we noticed that people were snickering at us when we had the down vests on, which, were just about right for the temp without a coat over the vest. Turns out, they thought the down vests were life jackets and thought that we were afraid of a possible hurricane. So we did explain and everyone had a good gut laugh. But the vests were very hard to comeby, and a number of the folks down there wanted then as soon as they found out they were for cold. I think we did send some down there or left the ones we had ... later on you could buy them in most places.
That's downright rude.
Larry Langford
Registered user
I'm still trying to remember what happened to my last down ski jacket, a hand me DOWN from dad .... pun .... I have had to work outside in some difficult conditions in many situations over the years, being a construction electrician. We tend to use carhart stuff, which is good in dry conditions but requires a rain suit in really bad weather. I found that the new zealand wool socks, gaiters, type of boots, long handles etc. were very important to stay warn and still be able to work. Parkas work great but you can't really work in them. But a nice down coat does make a great layer under the carhartt jacket or coat. I always used the bibs with three different levels of insulation, plain, red liners, and then arctic black liner. There great in the dry weather but wet weather is challenging with them. But are very durable ......
Kryos arrived, excellent looking jacket but I ordered the wrong size so when the right one arrives and I confirm all is well my Lightline (Large) will appear in the For Sale section
Good read this thread....
Quite fancied a Rab down jacket
Was a bit disappointed that the factory outlet was near Derby.....bit of a trek
Discovered yesterday they have a factory outlet at Northwich.....30 miles from me
Popped over there this morning
They don't have a website and don't do mail order
They do have their own facearse page showing what's in and new arrivals
Tried a few on and ended up getting an Axion Pro down jacket... I liked that the hood was removable
Not likely to need it for the temps some of you use them at but lovely, warm and very comfy
They threw in a Rab stuff sack and they also do 10% off if you have a blue light card
45% off rrp
Lots of places still selling them online discounted as the Glaceon or similar is it's replacement- fixed hood....not what wanted
As a bonus I called in J&S on the way back and had sausage egg chips n beans
Quite fancied a Rab down jacket
Was a bit disappointed that the factory outlet was near Derby.....bit of a trek
Discovered yesterday they have a factory outlet at Northwich.....30 miles from me
Popped over there this morning
They don't have a website and don't do mail order
They do have their own facearse page showing what's in and new arrivals
Tried a few on and ended up getting an Axion Pro down jacket... I liked that the hood was removable
Not likely to need it for the temps some of you use them at but lovely, warm and very comfy
They threw in a Rab stuff sack and they also do 10% off if you have a blue light card
45% off rrp
Lots of places still selling them online discounted as the Glaceon or similar is it's replacement- fixed hood....not what wanted
As a bonus I called in J&S on the way back and had sausage egg chips n beans
I have found that my Rukka down jacket is better, warmer and a better size fit being a 54 than my rab down jacket in XL
- the Rukka cost less at £200 also
- the Rukka cost less at £200 also
I've got the nivala 1 down jacket as well but it's short in length
Ideal if just over a tee shirt
Also good that you stick the arms inside and wear it as a vest
The jacket i got today was £141
56 in Rukka
Large in the Rab...Xl way too big for me
Ideal if just over a tee shirt
Also good that you stick the arms inside and wear it as a vest
The jacket i got today was £141
56 in Rukka
Large in the Rab...Xl way too big for me
Wish I could find one to fit, Thrudark 3xl is more like a 2xl, really wanted one of their end of days Parkas when they had a big sale on.
66 North / Ten C, Shackleton & a few others only seem to go to a 2XL, no interest in Canada Goose, only alternative I can see is a PHD Hispar or Denali custom made
66 North / Ten C, Shackleton & a few others only seem to go to a 2XL, no interest in Canada Goose, only alternative I can see is a PHD Hispar or Denali custom made
Is the down jacket thing becoming like the coffee snob thing?
I currently have a Karrimor for work, a North Face for warmth and a Rab hollow filled for wet weather.
I currently have a Karrimor for work, a North Face for warmth and a Rab hollow filled for wet weather.
Thrudark stuff is odd in its sizing and I think it depends on where it is made
The end of days parka is made in Italy ....
Mine is a 2XL and I am not really a 2XL
It is a bloody nice coat tho and as you said when they had their big sale on and a few of their bonus points ...
Mountain Equipment seem to be sponsoring Winterwatch. Just how many jackets does Packham have...
Had a Thrudark Engage, was a nice jkt but ridiculously small for a 3xl, gave it my brother inlaw, its strange how much variation there are in sizes, I've got a couple of their hoodies in 3xl "quite snug" and a couple from Fortis, same size but actually fit alot better,
I'd say Fortis are actually spot on with their sizes I've a dry wax smock & a couple of other jackets from them,, all brilliant quality, just have to wait 12 weeks as they're made to order at the shop in Devon
My friend, who trained extensively in Norway, swears by Buffalo Systems. (They seem to have stopped making sleeping bags?)
PHD clearance, a saving if you can find owt that'll fit, and suits. https://www.phdesigns.co.uk/bargain-box
I've a waterproof RAB down coat, it's more than adequate for here, though it's getting old now. I got it from their Derby outlet, it didn't cost a lot and owes me nothing. I wonder at the amount of gear they knock out of their outlets these days, it seems to be produced for that purpose.
PHD clearance, a saving if you can find owt that'll fit, and suits. https://www.phdesigns.co.uk/bargain-box
I've a waterproof RAB down coat, it's more than adequate for here, though it's getting old now. I got it from their Derby outlet, it didn't cost a lot and owes me nothing. I wonder at the amount of gear they knock out of their outlets these days, it seems to be produced for that purpose.
Have the Rukka down jacket that comes with the Nivala , it’s very good though short . Also have the Klim maverick which is better but not cheap . Both good off the bike
it fits okI find the Rukka down jacket a perfect fit under the ‘short’ cut Rukka jackets, a longer down jacket wouldn’t work as well. A light RAB windbreaker over the top makes it into a good destination jacket as it hides the short length.
I have a Rohan down jacket that is very similar to the Klim maverick which works well under the longer cut Badlands jacket.
I cheap down/synthetic fill jacket from Decathlon would probably work just as well.
I got my down jacket from an M&S sale years ago... does for the extreme cold we get in west Dorset 
I don't like going cold places
I don't like going cold places
I have a couple of ME down jackets , including an older unworn Annapurna.
My general go to is still wool .
Filson !
My general go to is still wool .
Filson !
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